A couple of months ago I emailed my friends Bryan Allain (blogger, funny guy) and Caleb Wilde (blogger, funeral director) with kind of a crazy idea.
“Let’s start a podcast where we interview people about a death that’s happened to someone they love,” I suggested. “Trust me, it’ll be great.”
After I sent the email, I had idea remorse. Do I really have the time to add “podcaster” to my resume? Would Caleb and Bryan think it was a stupid idea? And, perhaps most importantly, wouldn’t a podcast based around the simple premise of people retelling death stories be, well, depressing?
Who wants to listen to that.
Bryan, Caleb, and I met at our favorite midpoint meeting place, The Corner Coffee Shop. By the time we met, I had already talked myself out of the idea. We caught up about life, and then I began back-stepping out of my podcast idea.
“So, guys, listen, if you’re not into doing this podcast thing…” I began.
“No, I actually think it’s a great idea,” Caleb said. “I think our funeral home will sponsor the first three episodes.”
“Yeah, let’s go for it,” Bryan said.
“Um, yeah,” I said. “That’s what I was going to say.”
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So we’re doing it. We’ve interviewed our first two stories with one left to go for this initial run of three podcasts. The first story is about a couple who took in a set of triplets through foster care. The second is the story of a couple, newly married, who realized just a few days after their first child was born that something was seriously wrong. In the third story we explore the idea of “The Good Death,” where two siblings tell the story of their mother’s passing.
We named the podcast The Story of My Death. (Caleb calls it our Deathcast.) But the question remains: Why have a podcast where we interview people about death?
I don’t know that there’s a pragmatic answer to that question, or at least not one easily settled on. But I’ve learned a few things during our first two interviews. Talking about death, even tragic death, doesn’t have to be depressing. Even though the event itself, the loss, can be unbelievably sad, hearing people retell their stories hasn’t been a depressing experience. I actually found the stories, and the people telling them, to be extremely brave, resilient, and somehow hopeful.
Talking about death with people who had come face to face with it filled me, inexplicably, with a sense of peace.
If you’d like to stay in the loop regarding the release of the first episode, you can like our Facebook page, The Story of My Death or you can sign up for my twice-monthly newsletter HERE. We’re looking to release the first episode sometime in the next three or four weeks.
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The winner of last week’s book giveaway is Dustin Fife! Message me with your address, Dustin, and I’ll send you the two books you won. Thanks to everyone who left a comment over at my 1000th blog post. It was hugely encouraging to hear from all of you.
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Ha! I had no idea I was entering a book giveaway :/
Great idea on the podcast. I think the three of you would make an uber-powerful combo of personalities to talk about something so meaningful. Looking forward to it!
I am at the 10 year anniversary of my only surviving sibling. I lost two as a child. I will be following your series. so much I didn’t understand about grief…..so much I had to slog through. And it was a long time coming, but I can now be with people in their grief.
It’s fantastic there’s people like you willing to share to help the rest who are struggling to cope. Thanks for being a great example!
i could never have done it without 4 friends who walked with me and Jesus. I went through periods when I wasn’t sure God was to be trusted anymore and not even sure what I believed. They did that for me when I couldn’t.
If you would like to share I would like to hear about who you lost. only if you want to.
I meant it’s good for you to help others who are currently grieving. I have lost some (grandparents, acquaintances, and the like), but nothing as close as a sibling.
I appreciate your interest!